How do I use a paddock stand?

[Professor]

When I was at the Birmingham Motorcycle Show I bought myself a cheap
leather suit (Tuzo Pulse for £129.99). As I was leaving, the shop
assistants suddenly ran after me and presented me with a pair of
paddock stands: it turned out these were part of the special offer.
I am now faced with the challenge of learning how to use paddock
stands. My priority is, of course, learning how to use the rear one.
The brand of the paddock stand is unknown. The photo is here:

http://www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~ucahdva/photos/rear_paddock_stand.jpg

I haven't yet lifted the bike but I asked my wife to hold the bike
straight whilst I manoeuvered the paddock stand underneath. I got a
configuration similar to this (photo of someone's bike from our website):

http://www.sv650.org/gallery/pic42/eric1.JPG

My questions are as follows.

1. Is it safe to use the paddock stand with the supports provided
(the black L-shaped bits on the first photo) or should I buy some
sort of special bobbins which, presumably, would screw into the swingarm?

2. Am I right in understanding that lifting the bike onto the
paddock stand requires two people, one (preferably a large bloke)
holding the handlebars and the other manipulating the stand?

Advice would be most welcome.

[hovis]

long vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sR3lv66KmE


short vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQqa9Gf7JF8&feature=related

it can be done on your own, but i prefer to get someone to hold the bike

[K]

To be honest, once you've got the knack using a rear stand on your own is a piece of proverbial wee. Well, if little tiny me can 'do it' with a lumping great fatass 'Blade then you should have no probs...

... just have the side stand out at all times...

... oh yeah, and remember which side it's on and tip that way! ;)

[Sean_C]

I had someone hold the front for me the first time, from then on I've got it up on my own (*insert inappropriate joke here*) :)
Things to watch out for are getting the cups under the swingarm properly- if you're not careful you could get it tangled up with the brake line below the swingarm.
Always leave the sidestand down, as K said. It doesn't take much lean and the bike is too heavy for one arm, if you have the sidestand down at least you can put the bike back and have another go without dropping it.

Its easy once you get the knack, just have someone there holding the front for you til you're confident enough. It can be anyone, I had my mum, and she ain't a big strong man :D

[Professor]

Thanks, guys! The videos are particularly educational.

Despite it being so easy on the videos, when I will be doing it the
first time I will have a big bloke holding the bike and all my
friends and relatives standing on both sides with instructions to
place their bodies between the bike and garage floor if the need
arises. The big bloke and his family are arriving on Saturday so I
will wait till then.

[Red Herring]

The SV is easy because it has a nice big grabrail. Put the bike on the sidestand and the paddock stand behind the bike, the right way round. Then stand on the left side of the bike, facing the bike with the grabrail about centre to your body. Lift the bike off the side stand and get it nicely balanced, then when you are comfortable hold the grab rail with your left hand and with your right hand put the stand under the swingarm, making sure the "cups" are under the swingarm about an inch forward of the spindle. If the cups are adjustable make sure they are nice and snug to the swingarm. If you don't use the stand for any other bikes get them adjusted beforehand and then put some gaffer tape around them to stop them moving. You should now be in a position with your left hand holding the bike and your right hand on the end of the paddock stand. Put your right foot behind the little wheel on the paddock stand (side nearest to you) to stop it moving back then push down and back hard with your right hand, lifting the rear of the bike. You can make this a little easier if you also lift with your left hand on the grab rail. As the bike comes up and the stand goes down remember to pull your foot out from behind the wheel, otherwise it will end up on your toes. As soon as you put some weight on the stand the bike will become more stable, but generally don't let go of the grabrail until the stand handle is fully down.
First few times you do it get someone to stand on the other side of the bike just in case
it gets away from you. If you are left handed you can do the whole thing from the right side of the bike (left hand on stand, right on grab rail) meaning you have the sidestand to help catch the bike of it goes away from you. Some prefer to do it that way anyhow.

Things that go wrong.

It's not on level ground, as it goes up onto the stand everything falls over. Bit obvious, try and do it on level ground. If you must do it on a slope make sure it is in line fore and aft not sideways, and it is easier to get it up if the bike is pointing up hill, stops it rolling of the sidestand so easily as well, however beware next danger.....

The cups end up positioned to far forward on the swingarm. This is unlikely to happen when you first go up, but when working on the bike, especially one where the swingarm is not parallel to the ground the bike can "creep" on the stand, and it can expecially do it if the bike is facing up a slope. It can also do it if you have had the front of the bike up onto a front paddock stand as well. When you then go to take the bike off the stand the handle on the paddock stand will either trap your hand against the rear light (painful option) or smash the back light (expensive option) before the back wheel reaches the ground. Either way avoid it by checking the cups are still close to the rear wheel spindle before taking the bike off the stand.

Bike falls out of the cups. On the cheaper stands (sorry, the one in the picture is one of them) the cups are open ended, as opposed to the better ones where the inside end of the cup is turned up. If you are not careful the cups can slide apart allowing the swingarm to fall out. This is especially possible when the stand is a little older and the cups have become bent down a little. Best fix for a cheap stand is the get the cups correctly spaced for your bike, then gaffer tape as mentioned or better still drill a hole through the cup shaft and put a bolt through. Pain in the **** if you use it for different bikes, but a good fix if you don't.

Putting bobbins on the swingarm and fitting adapters to the paddock stand solves a lot of the problems and if you are going to do it regularly are definately worthwhile.

[Professor]

Thanks for the detailed reply, Red Herring!

I realise that my paddock stand is not top of the range. I guess I
will try using it as it is for the moment, incorporating the gaffer
tape trick. And, thankfully (?) I have only one bike so re-adjusting
is not a problem.

[Professor]

BTW, great to hear from you, Hovis! Hope everyone in the West is OK.

[mister c]

That looks like the same paddock stand as mine. I think they are Micron ones. I have used them on my CB500 and they seem fine. The front one is quite tricky to use as it has one adjustable side which has to be tightened very tightly to stop it rotating as you put the bike on it. Have used them to remove both wheels at the same time, with no problems.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/croozenooze/cb500/DSC00096.jpg

[northwind]

The thing to remember is that it's about balance, not strength. If you keep the bike balanced you can hold it up with a fingertip, if you let it go off balance it's suddenly 170 kilos or so of falling deadweight. Personally I think the best way to start is by propping the sidestand on a suitable thickness bit of wood or similiar, to bring the bike up close to- but not quite up to- vertical. This makes it so much easier to get the stand to take the weight.

And remember you don't have to do it in one go- once the stand is against the swingarm on both sides, you can keep the bike upright and stable with a very small downward pressure without having to hold up any weight, and hold it there for as long as you need to. The same applies for getting it down- most of the time when I've seen people have problems or heard of drops, they've tried to take it off the stand or put it on in one seamless move, there's no reason to. Lower it until the rear wheel is on the ground and the stand will still keep it upright as long as you keep a little pressure on the handle.

Trust me, if I could do it with my mighty 60 kilo frame, while on crutches and not allowed to put any weight on my right leg, anyone can ;)

[hovis]

BTW, great to hear from you, Hovis! Hope everyone in the West is OK.

:cheers: you too............ where have you been?


having a grabrail makes the job a bit easier (imo)

[Professor]

Mister c: you are right, my stands are identical to yours. And the
nut on the adjustable side of the front stand is indeed very fiddly. A
friend will bring a 30 mm wrench later today so, hopefully, I will
secure it.

Northwind, I will remember your tips. Will try the bit of wood trick
in due course. I just hope I won't have to learn to perform
maintenance on crutches.

Hovis, I started a new job in London in July 2006. I commuted from
Trowbridge for a few months, got completely exhausted and eventually
moved to Hatfield.

[Viney]

Just remember, NEVR USE THE FRONT STAND WITHOUT IT BEING ON THE REAR...EVER.

I have both types of paddock stand. The one with cups, like yours and the one with Hooks that go onto bobbins. I find that the stand with the cups is more stable but the one with bobbins easier to put on.

[Professor]

Just remember, NEVR USE THE FRONT STAND WITHOUT IT BEING ON THE REAR...EVER.


Good point, Viney. Thanks.

I just discovered the same fact independently by looking through the Busters
website - they have warnings to this effect.

[Lozzo]

Mister c: you are right, my stands are identical to yours. And the
nut on the adjustable side of the front stand is indeed very fiddly. A
friend will bring a 30 mm wrench later today so, hopefully, I will
secure it.


I've got the same type of front stand, I ended up welding the thing solid after it kept unwindng itself. Takes a bit of time to get the height right, but it'll never unwind again.

[Professor]

I've got the same type of front stand, I ended up welding the thing solid after it kept unwindng itself. Takes a bit of time to get the height right, but it'll never unwind again.

Probably this is the ultimate solution.

[metalmonkey]

I wanted to know as well, will it make it easier to use the stand with bobbins on? I have a micron paddock stand, I don't have the grab rail on my bike what the best way of doing by youself without the grab rail?

[Viney]

I wanted to know as well, will it make it easier to use the stand with bobbins on? I have a micron paddock stand, I don't have the grab rail on my bike what the best way of doing by youself without the grab rail?Yes its easier, but i found that if i used my Micron bobbin stand with the front stand that it would 'roll' off the rear stand every now and again whilst trying to put the front stand on. With the cup style, this doesnt happen.

As for putting the bike on the stand whilst not having a grab rail...practice. Put the bike in gear. Then bring the bike upright whilst holding the pillion seat at the front, as the paddock stand makes contact both sides with the gorund, hoik it up on to the stand,

[Professor]

I have succeeded raising my bike onto the rear stand and later
lowering it. Thanks to everyone for their advice!

As Red Herring predicted I experienced the "creeping" effect: the
swingarm slid along the cups. But I repositioned the bike by
standing on the paddock stand and pushing the grabrail.

As to the front stand, I decided not to use it unless I get
desperate.

[Defender]

I'm a nervous wreck when I use my paddock stand on the back wheel.

However, it's so much easier to clean the back wheel and lube your chain etc.

[Stig]

I find the Abba stand for the rear so much easier. And a block of wood to lift the front. :thumbsup:

[Professor]

I find the Abba stand for the rear so much easier.

I've heard good things about Abba stands. Unfortunately, I couldn't choose
a particular brand as I got mine for free.

[Stig]

I've heard good things about Abba stands. Unfortunately, I couldn't choose
a particular brand as I got mine for free.

I understand that. I was just being a pedantic. Sorry. :oops:

[Professor]

I was just being a pedantic.

Actually, pedantic is MY middle name. At least that is what Mrs Professor
tells me all the time.

[metalmonkey]

Yes its easier, but i found that if i used my Micron bobbin stand with the front stand that it would 'roll' off the rear stand every now and again whilst trying to put the front stand on. With the cup style, this doesnt happen.

As for putting the bike on the stand whilst not having a grab rail...practice. Put the bike in gear. Then bring the bike upright whilst holding the pillion seat at the front, as the paddock stand makes contact both sides with the gorund, hoik it up on to the stand,

I have no pillion seat, I have seat cowl...I could put it but it seems a pain in the ass to do so....

Didn't quite this, is it easier with the the bobbins on for the rear stand? I can find wood from someone where.

It is so easy with the rear stand to clean the bike! I really don't want to be droping my bike, so whats best then by urself?